I listened-in to a recent radio interview given by a Co. Monaghan sheep farmer describing the aftermath of a dog attack on her flock.  

The details of it all were truly harrowing. I was left feeling totally sympathetic for the lady in question.

But, at the same time, enormous anger started to build up in me, wondering why any dog owner could allow such a dog attack to take place in the first instance.

And, for the record, ignorance on the part of owners as to where their dogs might be at specific times of the day or night is no defence when it comes to sheep worrying incidents.        

Spring is in the air and the 2025 lambing season is about to get underway in earnest.

At the same time, dog owners will be thinking about opportunities to get themselves and their pets into the great outdoors in order to enjoy our beautiful countryside.

And all of this is fine and dandy until dogs are given the opportunity to get off the lead and make ‘their own fun’.

In some instances – not all – this ends up with these animals interfacing with flocks of heavily pregnant ewes. Given their condition, the sheep are not fit enough to run with the dogs.

Events can then spiral out of hand; the end result is carnage. Dogs, for whatever reason, attack the sheep and absolute brutality ensues.

The end result of sheep worrying is truly horrific. It’s a memory that haunts people for the rest of their lives.

Getting to grips with sheep worrying is a must and it’s up to gardaí and our politicians to act accordingly.

In the first instance the penalties associated with a sheep worrying incident must be increased dramatically.

The same approach must be taken when it comes to the chipping and licensing of dogs.

All dogs must be chipped. Those found not to have an identity chip must be removed and dealt with in an effective manner.

However, there is also an onus on the police and dog wardens to do their job more effectively in getting to grips with dogs that are allowed to wander the countryside. And this is particularly so at night.

Meanwhile, support must be given to hard-pressed flock owners, who are the ultimate victims in the vicious circle that is sheep worrying.

I see no reason why grants should not be made available for electric fencing systems. This is not to say that entire farms should be surrounded by electrified fences.

However, the option of putting electrified fences around paddocks used for heavily pregnant ewes or ewes and young lambs should be considered by agriculture minister, Martin Heydon, as an eligible sheep sector support measure.

Standard sheep fencing that is kept in good condition may keep some dogs out, but not all; going that extra mile and electrifying specific paddocks will have that extra deterrent effect.

As the footprint of new housing developments encroaches further into our rural areas, so the spectre of sheep worrying will continue to increase.

The threat of dog attacks is now one of the main reasons for farmers getting out of sheep production.

This trend must be reversed and it’s up to our politicians local and national -  gardaí and dog wardens to ensure this objective is achieved.